Food waste is a significant issue, with millions of tons discarded yearly. According to recent studies, a large percentage of food waste is in landfills or combustion facilities, contributing to methane emissions and environmental harm. The FDA has set a national goal to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030, and everyone can play a role in this effort.

Benefits of Reducing Food Waste

• Lower your carbon footprint and reduce landfill methane emissions.
• Save money by purchasing less food.
• Support your community by donating untouched food to needy people.
• Conserve resources and energy, preventing added food production and transportation pollution.

Effective Ways to Reduce Food Waste

Plan Your Meals

• Maintain a running list of favorite meals and ingredients for easy planning.
• Create a shopping list based on meals you plan to eat at home.
• Check your refrigerator and pantry before shopping to avoid duplicates.
• Only buy what you need and opt for bulk purchases if you can use everything before it spoils.

Smart Dining Practices

• Request smaller portions when dining out to avoid leaving food on your plate.
• Ask for a takeaway box for leftovers, and eat them later.

Utilize Your Freezer

• Freeze food to extend its shelf life until you are ready to use it.
• Use the "FoodKeeper App" to learn about proper food storage and freezing times.

Shop Realistically

• Avoid overbuying by planning meals and purchasing smaller quantities as needed.

Handle Leftovers Effectively

• Save leftovers from meals and label them with the date to track freshness.
• Incorporate leftovers into your weekly meal plans.

Understand Food Label Dates

• Take "best by" and "use by" dates as quality guidelines, not safety deadlines (except for baby formula).
• If a product smells or tastes spoiled, trust your senses instead of the date.

Track Food Waste

• Keep a journal to track what you throw away and assign a dollar value to see the financial impact.

Make Use of "Ugly" Produce

• Use imperfect or slightly bruised fruits and vegetables in smoothies, soups, or other recipes where appearance doesn't matter.

Follow the Two-Hour Rule

• Refrigerate perishable foods within two hours of preparation to maintain safety.

Turn Food Waste Reduction into a Challenge

• Compete with family and friends to see who can reduce food waste the most.

Additional Tips

• Donate safe, untouched, and nutritious food to local food banks to support those in need.
• Compost food waste instead of sending it to landfills, turning it into valuable fertilizer for gardens.

Final Thoughts

Reducing food waste is a small but impactful step toward a healthier planet and wallet. You can make a difference in your household and community by planning your meals, using your leftovers, and donating excess food. Together, we can achieve the goal of cutting food waste in half by 2030.